Messi closes on Pele's goal mark as Barcelona move clear

(CNN) -- Lionel Messi continued his assault on the record for most goals in a calendar year as Barcelona moved three points clear in Spain with a 5-0 win at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.

The Argentina star netted twice, taking him to 73 overall in 2012 -- just two short of the mark set by the legendary Brazilian Pele in 1959, and 12 behind the milestone set by German striker Gerd Muller in 1972.

He gave Barca a comfortable 2-0 lead three minutes after the break with his 300th for club and country, adding to David Villa's first-half opener, and wrapped up the scoring in the 89th minute.

It took the 25-year-old to a leading 13 goals in La Liga this season and 17 in all competitions.

The victory put more pressure on second-placed Atletico Madrid, who host Osasuna on Sunday.

Barcelona fans hold letters forming the word 'Independencia' and wave Catalan 'Estelada' independence flags in the match against Real Madrid.

Lionel Messi (left) and Cristiano Ronaldo celebrate goals in the El Clasico clash in the Camp Nou.

Jose Mourinho gestures during the El Clasico clash with his Barcelona counterpart Tito Vilanova in the background.

Barcelona's decision to invite a former captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit to the El Clasico clash was met with protests in Palestine.

Independence day

Superstar stalemate

Managerial maestros

Political protests

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Spanish heavyweights battle El Clasico draw

Pep Guardiola waved goodbye to Barcelona on Friday in the only way he knows how -- by winning a trophy. The club's victory in the Spanish Cup final took his haul of trophies to 14 during his four years in charge.

Guardiola is inextricably linked with Barcelona. He was born in Catalonia, and joined Barca's academy in 1984, winning six Spanish league titles and one European Cup before leaving for Italy in 2001.

After a spell coaching Barcelona's 'B' team, in which he delivered promotion to the second tier of Spanish football, Guardiola was handed the top job in June 2008 by then president Joan Laporta (L).

Guardiola's dedication to an approach known as "tiki taka" -- a fluent passing style based around dynamic movement -- was immediately evident, as players like Xavi and Andres Iniesta, both World Cup winners with Spain in 2010, flourished. Guardiola also maximised the use of a young striker called Lionel Messi, who would go on to break all records.

In Guardiola's first season Barcelona won an unprecedented treble as they scooped the Spanish league title, the Spanish Cup and the European Champions League, beating Manchester United in Rome.

By the time 2009 was out, Barca had added the Spanish Supercup, European Supercup and Club World Cup trophies to their cabinet, making it six won in Guardiola's first season. He also retained the Spanish league title in 2010.

Prior to the 2010 season Real Madrid employed Jose Mourinho, the self-anointed 'Special One' as their coach. This intensified the fierce rivalry between the two giants, and provoked a series of disagreeements between two of the game's biggest names.

Despite Mourinho's presence, Guardiola again retained the Spanish league title in 2011 and claimed his second European Champions League crown, as Barca again beat Manchester United, this time at Wembley in London.

But for months there had been rumors that the demands of the job and those he placed on himself were wearing Guardiola down. After Barcelona had relinquished both their league and Champions League titles, he confirmed he was standing down. "The reason is simple: four years is enough," he said. "I'm drained and I need to fill up."

At the press conference to announce Guardiola's departure Barca confirmed his assistant Tito Vilanova would take over as coach. As another disciple of Barcelona's approach, he has a tough task to replicate Guardiola's achievements.

Guardiola's long goodbye

Barca in his blood

Back in the fold

The architects of tiki taka

The Kings of Europe

The joy of six

New kid on the block

Wizards of Wembley

Going, going, gone

The King is dead, long live the King

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How Pep Guardiola reinvented football

Footless footballer to meet Messi

Cristiano Ronaldo: I'm better than Messi

Defending champions Real Madrid, now 11 points adrift of their arch-rivals, cannot afford to slip up in the trip to Real Mallorca.

Barca thrashed Vallecano 7-0 in last season's corresponding fixture, but this time the home side looked like earning a more respectable result after a first half featuring striker Villa's fourth league goal this season, courtesy of Cesc Fabregas' ninth assist.

But Messi smashed in a superb 48th-minute effort after Marc Montoya delivered from the right, then 25 minutes later veteran midfielder Xavi netted his 50th in La Liga from fullback Jordi Alba's cutback.

Fabregas volleyed in Pedro's cross soon after, and Messi rounded the keeper to make it a five-star showing and extend new coach Tito Vilanova's unbeaten run in the league.

Earlier Saturday, third-placed Malaga lost ground on the leaders after being held 0-0 at Espanyol, a result which left Manuel Pellegrini's team seven points behind Barca.

Real Betis moved up to fourth with a 1-0 win at home to Valencia, while Celta Vigo drew 1-1 with third-bottom Deportivo La Coruna.

Meanwhile in Italy, AC Milan bounced back from the Champions League defeat by Malaga to snatch a much-needed victory against Genoa.

With coach Massimiliano Allegri under pressure after the club's worst start to a season since the 1940s, and owner Silvio Berlusconi sentenced to jail for tax evasion, the Rossoneri were indebted to a 77th-minute goal from young striker Stephan El Shaarawy.

The Italy international marked his 20th birthday with a close-range finish that lifted Milan up to eighth place, with three wins from nine games.

Genoa, in the club's first match under new coach Luigi Del Neri, remained in midtable.

In Saturday's other match, bottom club Siena drew 0-0 with Palermo.

Champions Juventus travel to Catania on Sunday while second-placed Napoli host Chievo.